The Editors' Association of Canada offers the following four certification tests based on Professional Editorial Standards (PES):

1. Structural Editing

• Standards tested: B1–13 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take the test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard editing mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of structural editing, and one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your structural editing skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • reorganizing the passage
  • using a table of contents and/or outline to show the structural editing that the text requires
  • revising, cutting or expanding material to meet specific requirements
  • preparing a memo to the assigning editor or author commenting on the required editing
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

2. Stylistic Editing

• Standards tested: C1–15 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take the test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard editing mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of stylistic editing, and one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your stylistic editing skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • improving sentence construction and word choice to convey meaning more effectively
  • rewriting sentences, paragraphs and passages to resolve ambiguity and ensure logical connections
  • eliminating wordiness
  • preparing a memo to the assigning editor or author commenting on the required editing
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

3. Copy Editing

• Standards tested: D1–18 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take this test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard editing mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of copy editing, and at least one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your copy editing skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • correcting errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage
  • ensuring the accuracy of numerical material
  • correcting or querying inconsistencies in logic, factual details and cross-references
  • maintaining consistency in heads, tables and lists
  • creating a style sheet
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

4. Proofreading

• Standards tested: E1–18 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take this test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard proofreading mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of proofreading, and at least one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your proofreading skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • inserting author's alterations
  • checking that copy editing changes have been made correctly
  • checking for lapses in stylistic and copy editing and taking appropriate action
  • checking the integrity of the laid-out manuscript against the original manuscript
  • checking for errors in layout
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides